The only global creative network for women

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SheSays Chicago brought together four local social media leaders for a lively discussion at Digitas LBiabout how men and women use social media differently. Moderator Anna Russett is a Strategist at Havas Worldwide Chicago and a Social Media Influencer with a YouTube Channel. Panelists includedTerez Baskin, Social Media Expert, Author, and SEO consultant, Liz Caradonna, VP/Director of Social Strategy at DigitasLBi and Chase Turner, Creative Strategist at Tumblr.

The underlying theme was: you really have to listen to your audience. Hear what the panelists had to say on social media topics ranging from online behaviors to gender roles.

Older men are readers, you have to tell them to do things. – Terez Baskin

How can brands’ messaging be more inclusive to all genders?

Be mindful of how diversity is shown—no stereotypes. The Campbell’s Soup Spider-Man “Real, real life” TV campaign was mentioned. How do we allow them to be who they are? Women are more likely than men to engage with brands. Studies show that little girls can identify with a boy protagonist in a book or movie, but boys can’t identify with girl characters.

Target by interest, anyone can be interested in anything so there’s no exclusion. – Chase Turner

About using social media as a customer service tool

How do you talk to customers without pandering and making them feel heard? SheSays memberL'Oreal Payton brought up a situation where she was blocked by a brand after she called them out on social media for advertising an inappropriate Halloween costume (one that made fun of Kim Karsashian being held up at gunpoint and robbed). All of the panelists agreed: blocking your followers is NOT good customer service. You shouldn’t be fearful of the comment section.

Use comments to inform the work that you do. – Anna Russett

About reaching kids and teens on social media

Be where they are—they see the internet as a real place and communicate with their friends on it at all times. (Anna) Follow who they follow, as questions, ask them how they use social media. We need better digital literacy for children, opportunities for them to learn how to code, be more involved in the evolution of social media.

Kids need to be made more aware of privacy. – Terez Baskin

What are you most excited to learn in the next 3 months?

Liz: Learn more about teens, see what the generational differences are.

Chase: After Hillary becomes President, see how the election conversation continues. Will it get worse? Better?

Terez: What’s new? What’s next?

Anna: How can we better involve Gen Z/Millennials in conversations about them on social media/Snapchat to get real insights (they are currently not part of the conversation).